Debbie K. Savarino joined the Duke staff in 2002 as the primary fund raiser for Duke’s sports performance research facility, The K Lab. In 2004, she was named Assistant Director of the Legacy Fund and External Relations Director for Men’s Basketball. Savarino is responsible for all special events involving the team within the Duke and Durham communities to include Countdown to Craziness, the annual team poster production, the end of season banquet and the K Academy while maintaining the relationships with the Duke Children’s Hospital, The Emily K Center and The Jimmy V Foundation.

As Associate Director of the Legacy Fund, Savarino is part of a fundraising team that has 41 active partners and has raised over $80 million for the program. This team has fully endowed the basketball program to include all player scholarships and coaching positions. Monies raised have also built and maintained the facilities used by the program.

Savarino also works hand in hand with Duke Corporate Education and Fuqua School of Business as a designer and facilitator for corporate events based on team work and leadership skills. These programs have been implemented by some of the world’s top corporations.

A 1993 Duke graduate with a degree in Sociology, Savarino is active in the Durham community serving on the board at the Emily K Center and volunteering with the Duke Children’s Hospital. Debbie and her husband, Peter have four children, Joey, Michael, Carly and Emmie.